Page 26 of Enemies to Lovers

He swallows hard, his eyes focused on my knees instead of my face. “It’s about the internship. I…” His voice disappears, and the only sound in the room is Brewster gnawing on a very loved lobster on the couch. Miles shakes his head, blowing out a long sigh. “Nevermind.”

I kink an eyebrow. “Lose your train of thought or your nerve?”

“The latter.”

The sheepish grin on his face will be the death of me. “If it’s any consolation,” I say, hoping I’m reassuring, “I’m a bit nervous as well.”

His gaze lifts to mine, his gorgeous hazel eyes widening. “Youget nervous?”

I snort. “I am human.”

He takes another swig from his bottle, and I get a lovely show of that neck working the liquid down his throat again. He twists the lid back on, nodding toward me. “What’s got you on edge?”

As if it isn’t obvious. “This.” I toss a hand between us. “You.” A nervous laugh dribbles out of me in staccato. I watch my feet kick the barstool as my mouth goes off. “I’ve liked you for a long time, Miles. It’s a bit surreal to have you here at my place, looking like that.”

I wave at basically all of him, focusing mainly on those forearms. God really did bless this man… or He cursed me with no self-control.

Miles runs his fingers through his beard, side-stepping from me. “No pressure, right?”

“You’re living up to the hype, believe me.”

That not-a-smile touches his lips, and his fingers go nuts against his beard. I wonder if that’s why he keeps it longer—to have something to scratch at, play with, keep his hands busy.

“There’s something I’ve wanted to say all night,” he says after another round of lobster growling, “and I’m beating myself up that I haven’t said it yet.”

“Intriguing.” I inch toward him again, because I can’t stop my butt. “I’m all ears.”

A blush runs up his neck from the collar of that baseball Henley, painting his skin a dark pink. I bet I’d burn my tongue if I raked it across his collarbone.

He meets my eyes, and a shaky, barely-there baritone drops from his lips. “You look damn beautiful.”

I’ve died. I’ve died a million deaths, and I’m now in heaven. I’m so grateful I gave my seat to that old lady on the trax the other day.

“Thank you.” And because I have to handle things with flair, I smooth my shirt and settle my hands on my hips. “I put in a lot of hard work to get looking like this.”

“You do hard work?” His voice is a tease, and I like it too much to be offended.

“Not everyone can look naturally gorgeous.” I press a finger to his chest.

“Oh, there’s hard work put in here, trust me.” He lets out a humorless laugh at his own expense, and my eyes drift to his styled locks.

“Your hair has gotten so long.”

“You like it?”

“It’s growing on me. Pun unintentional.” Confidence finds me, and I raise my fingers to those strands, pushing them off his forehead. They’re softer than I thought. “I miss seeing your eyes. They’re always hiding.” My hand trails south, and my nails tumble through his beard. “This, however… I like this a lot.”

He catches my hand, trapping it against his cheek. I’m either breathing too much or not at all, and my head is filled with Miles and only Miles. His gaze drops to my lips, and I wet them, prepare them… because once he claims them, they are all his for as long as he wants.

His nose brushes mine, and my heart pounds in my ears, pumping blood to all my erogenous zones. The moment is here… it’shere, and it’s better than I ever imag—

“Um… Val?”

My eyes pop open. Miles’ nose is scrunched, his jaw clenched. And then it hits me.

The scent of rotten eggs mixed with spoiled milk and butt swirls into my nostrils, and I jerk back, my gag reflex kicking in.

“Oh my…” I cover my nose, my voice muffled through my hands. “I’m so sorry.”

---